Apparatus for working metal



June 9, 1936. A. w. WOODWARD ,APPARATUS FOR WORKING METAL Filed Oct; 26, 1934 m/mm,

Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Wingfoot Corporation,

Wilmington, Del., a

corporation of Delaware Application October 26, 1934, Serial No. 750,080

9 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for working metal as by pressing or rolling, and more particularly is concerned with the manufacture of metallic rims for automobile or like use.

In the past rims for pneumatic tires and the like have been made up from suitable flat stock which is either hot or cold rolled into a flat strip which is substantially of the cross-sectional contour of the finished rim. However, some difficulty was experienced in properly rolling the rim gutter and the overhanging tire supporting flange due to the angle and curvature of these parts, so that it has been proposed (reference may be had to my Patent No. 1,934,650 issued November '7, 1933) to roll the rim section with a bent or angle base which permits the rolls to more accurately form the overhanging and curved portions of the section. The angle base sections are then rolled or pressed flat and the manufacture of the rim completed by the usual formation of the section into a circle with the standard welding and splitting operations following.

Some difficulty has likewise been encountered in properly positioning therim sections during 7 the base flattening operation, although my former Patent No. 1,934,650 referred to above discloses one manner of aligning the rim section during the base flattening operation.

My present invention has for an object the provision of an improved method and apparatus for positioning and aligning rim sections or the like during pressing or rolling operations, such as for example that of flattening the angle base of a rim during its manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide resilient means for normally holding a metal portion during apressing or rolling operation so that the portion is properly positioned during the entire operation. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide aligning and positioning means of the character described which are simple, efiicient and commercially practical.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method for handling and working metal such as rim sections.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are achieved by the method and apparatus hereafter minutely described, the said apparatus being illustrated in the attached drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention adapted for pressing metal sections;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a second embodi ment of the invention illustrating the principles thereof as applied to metal rolling equipment; and c Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, on a somewhat larger scale, on line VV of Fig. 4.

It will be appreciated that the features of the invention are applicable to various types of metal forming and handling equipment. However, in accordance with the patent statutes, certain best known forms of the invention have been selected for complete illustration and description. Inasmuch as the invention is particlarly concerned with the manufacture and. treatment of angle base rim sections-prior to a circle rolling operation, these forms of the invention have been selected.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 22nd 3, the numeral l0 indicates generally a bed which ismounted in any suitable manner (by means not shown), so that a reciprocating platen or die head shown generally at I2 is adapted for movement toward and from the bed Ill. The bed is formed with a longitudinal groove or channel [4 which is adapted to receive the rim section R which is flattened during the pressing operation from the full line position seen in Fig. 3 to the dotted line position of the same figure. The bed In may be provided with a reinforced anvil bar I6 adjacent the channel M which will function to insure the proper formation of the desired rim section during the flattening operation. The exact details of the bed l0 and plunger l2 are not important per se, other than to assist in the desired shaping operation.

The present invention is primarily concerned with providing means for resiliently positioning the rim section R during the base flattening operation, and these means may take the form of a resiliently mounted plunger which includes a shaft 22 and a compression spring 24, the whole being slidably carried in a circular recess 26 formed in the bed Ill and in an auxiliary block 28 secured to the bed as by cap screws 30. The outward position of the plunger 20 can be made adjustable, as by providing adjusting and lock nuts 32 on the end of the shaft 22 which is, of course, appropriately threaded. The plunger 20 is preferably formed'with 2. lug or boss 33 to increase its overall height thereby preventing the rim if warped from slipping over the end of the plunger 20. A slot may be cut in the bed It! and block 28 to permit movement of the lug 33.

A plurality'of the resilient plungers 20 are profilb ri hery adapted to shape the rim section to give tion R during the pressing operation;

prises first, adjusting the plungers 20 so that the j rim section 'will be held with the gutter portion. 7 thereof slightly spaced from-the side of thechan nel [4 so that during the downward movement of the platen l2 the plungers 20 will yieldoagainst the action of compression springs 2-4 to permit the gutter portion of the rim to finally completely fill the channel M. 'In this manner the resilient plungers 20 serve to hold the rim section B l e-- siliently in the desired alignment with the channel l4 and bed NJ as the platen descends in the :flattening operation. Sliding movement" of the edges of the rim section R on the bed 10 will thus. be "distributed between both sides rather than 'being all on one sideonly. Likewise, due to the resilient'nature of the plungers 20 they will not i2 and bedilo so that rim sections of the desired characteristics can be quickly and uniformly produced.

. V Figs-4 and 5 of the drawing illustratetheapplication ofthe principles ofthe invention to rolling 7 equipment for flattening an angle base rim section. In' this embodiment of the invention the rim section has been indicated by the letter S and the sameis adapted tobe passed through a will be evident from Fig. 4, the rolls areplaced in alignment and are gradually positioned closer plurality of .cooperating'rolls indicated at 40 and 42, 44 and 46, and 58', 52 and 54, 5B and 58. "As

together so thatfin passingthe metal section S through the rolls theangle base thereof will be gradually and smoothly flattened to the desired crosssectional dimensions, and shape. 'The in- Jv'ention contemplates employing only oneset of.

mg this result will now be described.

cooperating'rolls and gradually moving the axes or these rolls together to achieve the same flatten l scribed for use with rim handling apparatus, it

ing operation. The exact detailsof the'c'onstruction and relation of these rolls does not constitute "the paramountfeature' of my invention which is. more directly concerned with providing means for r resiliently holding andaligning the metal sections as'theypass through the rolls. Means for achiev- 5 of the'drawing is illustrative of one best known form of my invention for positioning the metal rim 'section S during the rolling operation, and these means have'been illustrated in conjunction with rolls '40 and 427 seen in Fig. 4 although '{it W illbe understood that the positioningmeans may be incorporated with any or. all of the pairs of rolls. Roll' lll is provided with the usual pethe proper angle between thergutter and base of the rim section, but,rin addition, isprovidedwith l aspringepositioned sleeve '64 'having'a radially r sleeve '64 may be held in place by a collar 68 which extending flange 66 which is adap'ted to contact with the gutter portion of the. rim sections. 1 The 'is adjustably secured in any suitable manner to r the roll '40, as by providing a threadedconnection T0 therebetween. The collar. 68 may beformed v.wli th anlaiiially directed guiding flange 12, which "surrounds and helps 'to guide the'sleeve 64 as well mally 'hold' the sleeve "stand "itS iIiteg raTgiiide It is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be apparent from theforegoing description. However, the operation briefly comflange 66 over in a position to properly align the rim section S with the roll; 7

'The roll 40 may be provided with radially directed and circumferentially spaced parts which partially define the gutter shaping area of the.

roll. If this is done the guide flange 66 of the sleeve 64 is formed with'axially extending por-l tions which pass between the radiallydirected 1 parts of the roll 40 so thatthe rim section S is still contacted by the flange 66 to properly position the same.

which necessarily'resultj do not readily adapt themselves to rolling operations. When the flange 66 is made fullaround the roll, the collar .68 is preferably adjusted so that it acts as astop 'for the cushioning movement of the sleeve 64 and its integral flange 66, thereby'insuring aproper formation of the gutter portion of the rim section S. r

Inhe operation of the rolling equipmentthergradual flattening of the rim section S will push 'thealigning sleeve 64 in its flange 66 gradually back against the action ofthe compression spring '14 until the base portion of the rim has been-completely flattened. 7

By the mechanism of the'present invention, centering or aligning means are provided for accurately positioning metal rim sections "during pressing or'rolling' operations, thereby insuring the formationof sections in whichlthe gutter portion is of the proper dimensions and which has the exact angularity desired with respect to the base section of the rim. The sliding movement on the sides of the angle base rim section during the flattening operation is so distributed as to avoid This construction is not preferred, 7 however, inasmuch as the projecting corners I the positioning means with putting all sliding stresses on only one side,

which ,may possibly damage the rim. Wear on the rolls orplaten and bed is likewise. properly distributed. The improved apparatus eliminates any necessity for hand positioning with its cor related dangers and production'ineiflciency is ele yated.

While the invention hasbeen particularlydewill 'be appreciated that the principles thereof can be adapted to other uses requiring similar operations and, accordingly,'thefinvention is not limited to the specific examples thereof illustrated and described in detail, but is defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

V1.In apparatus for flattening angle basej rim sections, the combination of a "bed .for receiving the section, aplaten' head adapted for reciprocat 'ing movement ab'ove the bed, and means for 'resilien'tly positioning the'section on theb'ed" during 'the'flat'tening operation, said means including a V plurality of spring held which contactjwith the rim section in a directiontoyielding'ly oppose the flattening, movement of the :rim edge fbiit which will .yield tea 'p'ositionito 'per mitthe V.

to be completely shaped. r r l 7 v r v.

2. 'In apparatus for flattening .angle-basecrim "sections, the combination of. a bed ,forjlreceiving the section, a platen head adapted .for reciprocating movement above the bed, and ,means' 'for resiliently positioning the sectionbn lthe lbed' during the flatteninggoperation. '3. In apparatus for flattening angle base rim' sections, the combination .of-a bed for receiving" the section, a platen head for reciprocating movement abovethefbed, and'means for ,re-

'siliently'positioning the section on thebcdduring the flattening operation, said means includ ing a plurality of spring held pins which contact with the rim section.

4. In apparatus for working metal sections, the combination of a bed for receiving the section, a platen head adapted for reciprocating movement above the bed, and means for resiliently positioning the section on the bed during the metal Working operation, said means including a plurality of spring held pins which contact with the section in a direction to yieldingly oppose the flattening movement of the section edge but which will yield to a position to permit the section to be completely shaped.

5. In apparatus for flattening angle base rim sections, the combination with a bed having two bed portions at an angle to each other, a platen head having a portion facing said first two bed portions but at a greater angle to one of said portions than the other, and yielding means associated with the bed portion at the greater angle for engaging the adjacent edge of a rim section placed on said portions, whereby when said platen engages said rim section to straighten same, said yieldable means will yield in the direction in which said edge moves during the rim straightening operation, said yielding means acting also as a positioning means for positioning the rim section on said bed portions initially.

6. In an apparatus for flattening angle base rim sections, the combination with one forming member having at least two rim section engaging portions at an angle to each other, a second forming member having a rim section engaging face opposed to said two rim section engaging portions, but at a greater angle to one of said portions than the other, and yielding means associated with said portion which is at the greater angle to said face for engaging the adjacent edge of a rim section placed between said forming members, whereby when said forming members engage said rim section to straighten same, said yielding means will yield in the direction in which said edge moves during the rim straightening operation, said yielding means acting also as a positioning means for positioning the rim section on said first forming member initially.

7. In an apparatus for flattening angle base rim sections, the combination with one forming member having at least two rim section engaging portions at an angle to each other, a second forming member having a rim section engaging face opposed to said two rim section engaging portions, but at a greater angle to one of said portions than the other, and yielding means associated with said portion which is at the greater angle to said face for engaging the adjacent edge of a rim section placed between said forming members, whereby when said forming members engage said rim section to straighten same, said yielding means will yield in the direction in which said edge moves during the rim straightening operation, acting also as a positioning means for positioning the rim section on said first forming member initially, said forming members comprising a pair of rollers arranged in opposed relation.

8. In an apparatus for flattening angle base rim sections, the combination with one forming member having at least two rim section engaging portions at an angle to each other, a second forming member having a rim section engaging face opposed to said two rim section engaging portions but at a greater angle to one of said portions than the other, and yielding means associated with said portion which is at the greater angle to said face for engaging the adjacent edge of a rim section placed between said forming members, whereby when said forming members engage said rim section to straighten same, said yielding means will yield in the direction in which said edge moves during the rim straightening operation, acting also as a positioning means for positioning the rim section on said first forming member initially, the edge of said rim section opposite to that as engaged by said yielding means being unrestricted as to its lateral movement except for frictional forces.

9. In an apparatus for flattening angle base rim sections, the combination with one forming member having at least two rim section engaging portions at an angle to each other, a second forming member having a rim section engaging face opposed to said two rim section engaging portions, but at a greater angle to one of said portions than the other, and yielding means associated with said portion which is at the greater angle to said face for engaging the adjacent edge of a rim section placed between said forming members, whereby when said forming members engage said rim section to straighten same, said yielding means will yield in the direction in which said edge moves during the rim straightening operation, acting also as a positioning means for positioning the rim section on said first forming member initially, the edge of said rim section opposite to that as engaged by said yielding means being unrestricted as to its lateral movement, except for frictional forces, and said forming members comprising a pair of rollers.

ALVA W. WOODWARD. 

